James L. Fisher: Marine commandant failed put-up or shut-up test

Last month, the commandant of the Marine Corps, while on active duty and in uniform, criticized several of the president’s national security decisions. To some, this might have appeared as a sign of strength — as an individual following their conscience. In reality, it was an action that goes against everything that the Marine Corps stands for.

Every Marine raises their right hand and swears that they will “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.” Embedded in the Constitution is the thought that the president is the commander-in-chief and as such, the commandant reports to the president.

If the commandant disagreed with the policies of the president, he had the opportunity to make that known to the president in person as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If the commandant was unable to change the president’s mind, then he had but two choices — salute and get on with his job or submit his resignation.

The one option he did not have was the one he took — to publicly disagree with his commander-in-chief. What made his actions even more suspect was the fact that he is only two months away from retirement.

What did Gen. James Amos say? Speaking before the Brookings Institute: “The Obama administration has paved the way for the emergence of The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by completely withdrawing troops in 2011.”

He also blasted the White House for failing to live up to its obligations around the world: He spoke of the growing concern of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan becoming disillusioned … and so it went.

His comments have influenced debate on both sides of the isle, applause from Rick Perry and disagreement from Rand Paul. Should our military become a political instrument akin to a banana republic and other nations controlled by the military?

Since his remarks, I have spoken with many Marine veterans, including both officers and enlisted, and all, excepting one, were disappointed, even embarrassed, that a Marine commandant would publicly cross the line into politics. The one exception was so concerned about our declining state that he said: “I support anything that hurts (Barack) Obama.”

Amos has had a checkered record as commandant. He opposed the repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals and later changed his mind saying that the Marines have now embraced the change.

It was reported that he had removed a Marine Corps publication, the Marine Corps Times, from Base Exchange stores for what he felt was biased coverage of his leadership, but later said that he had not intended to ban the publication. He forced two Marine Corps generals (who were “lifelong friends”) to retire because of not sufficiently emphasizing troop security in Afghanistan. The debate was between the relative importance of security and mission.

He has also been involved in at least two abuse-of-power charges: one by an active duty Marine major and another a sexual assault case involving a staff sergeant.

Bottom line: The military is an instrument of our democratic society, not a participant. Active duty Marines do not enter the political arena without authorization. Amos made the wrong choice. His statement was an embarrassment to the Corps.

James L. Fisher, a Vero Beach resident and president emeritus of Towson University, served in the Marine Corps during the Korean conflict and has been a board member at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, and the Marine Military Academy in Texas.